How to Get Oil Stains & Grease Spots Out of Clothes

food oil stains and fabric

Cooking oil and grease make some of the most stubborn stains you can get on your clothes. Here’s how to remove an oily set-in stain using a bit of liquid dishwashing detergent.

More from Clorox experts

Don't rush to the sink to rinse out that stain! Whether it comes to cooking oil and grease, removing oily stains from clothing starts with the right pretreating technique.

One of the best things to use for pretreating oil stains is actually liquid dishwashing detergent (the kind you use for handwashing dishes) because it’s formulated for greasy dishes. Look for a traditional dish detergent instead of one made with plant-based cleaning agents.

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What you need

Step to get rid of oil stains

  1. Apply dish detergent to the stain

    Apply enough liquid dishwashing detergent to saturate the oil stain. Gently massage it completely into the stain.

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  2. Wait 5 minutes

    Allow a little time for the dish detergent to break up all of the oil.

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  3. Rinse the stain

    Completely remove the dish detergent from your clothing by rinsing with warm water. This is important to keep the dish detergent out of the clothes washer.

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  4. Machine wash with bleach

    If your clothing is white and bleach-safe, wash in the hottest water recommended on the care label using a good laundry detergent and ⅓ cup Clorox™ Disinfecting Bleach.

    If the fabric has color, or is white and includes any spandex, wash it in the warmest water recommended using detergent and Clorox 2™ for Colors.

    Tip

    Always avoid bleaching wool, silk, leather, mohair and spandex.

    Close-up of white dial set to "Hot" on washing machine.

  5. Air dry and check for success

    Air drying is important. Damp or wet fabric can hide residual oil that was missed when pretreating. To completely remove the oil from your clothes, repeat the treatment again, starting with dry fabric.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can you remove oil stains with color, like balsamic vinegar and olive oil, using dish detergent?

When an oil stain has a color component (like greasy pizza sauce, pesto or gravy), after treating with the dish detergent, but before machine washing, treat the stain again with liquid Clorox 2™ for Colors. It’s okay to do this right after rinsing away the dish detergent. Apply a little Clorox 2™, rub it into the stain and wait 10 minutes, then machine wash.

Is hot or cold water better for removing oil stains from clothes?

Hot water is generally more effective for removing oil stains, especially from bleach-safe white fabrics. The heat helps break down and lift oily residues more efficiently than cold water. For white items that are bleach-safe, use the hottest water recommended on the care label along with Clorox™ Disinfecting Bleach and detergent. For colored fabrics or white items that contain spandex, use warm water and Clorox 2™ for Colors and detergent. Always check the care label first to ensure the fabric can tolerate the selected temperature.

Are oil stains on clothes permanent?

Oil stains are not necessarily permanent, but they can become more difficult to remove over time. The longer a stain sits untreated, the more likely it is to bond with the fabric fibers. The type of fabric also plays a role—synthetics like polyester may hold onto oil more stubbornly than natural fibers like cotton. For best results, treat oil stains as soon as possible using dish detergent and follow up with a targeted laundry additive stain remover like Clorox 2™ for Colors. Some stains may require multiple rounds of treatment, especially if they’ve already been through a dryer cycle.